Guess my subject line says it all. I have activated the
XP firewall, have installed Spybot S&D, have McAfee
viruscan online, and Google popup blocker. Is my computer
properly protected? I am concerned about indiscriminately
downloading protection software of one sort or another,
thinking that one might interfere with another.
So........ what ARE the necessary defenses these days?
Also - is there a way to search newsgroups to avoid asking
questions that have probably already been asked?
Thanks!
Jude
Jude,
XP ICF is better than nothing. It is somewhat limited in logging of detected
threats. It also is limited in that it is a Microsoft product, and resolution
of any known weaknesses are slowed by the usual Microsoft update cycle.
As you've indicated by your post, it (or any other software firewall) is only
one component in a layered defense.
The first layer is a NAT router (hardware firewall). If you have broadband
internet, or PPP-compatible dialup internet, you can use a hardware firewall.
The second layer is a software firewall. See various discussions in
comp.security.firewall for good advice on this choice.
The third layer is good software. This layer contains many parts.
AntiVirus protection. Realtime, plus a regular virus scan.
Adware / spyware protection. Realtime, plus a regular adware / spyware scan.
Complete instructions, using Spybot S&D and HijackThis (both free) are here:
http://www.spywareinfo.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=5187
Harden your browser. There are various websites which will check for
vulnerabilities, here are three which I use.
http://www.jasons-toolbox.com/BrowserSecurity/
http://bcheck.scanit.be/bcheck/
https://testzone.secunia.com/browser_checker/
Harden your operating system. Check at least monthly.
http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/
Block possibly dangerous websites with a Hosts file. Three Hosts file sources I
use:
http://www.accs-net.com/hosts/get_hosts.html
http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm
(The third is included, and updated, with Spybot (see above).
Maintain your Hosts file with:
eDexter <
http://www.accs-net.com/hosts/get_hosts.html>
Hostess <
http://accs-net.com/hostess/>
Hosts File Reader
<
http://members.shaw.ca/techcd/VB_Projects/HostsFileReader.exe>
The fourth layer is common sense. Yours. Don't install software based upon
advice from unknown sources. Don't install free software, without researching
it carefully. Don't open email unless you know who it's from, and how and why
it was sent.
The fifth layer is education. Know what the risks are. Stay informed. Read
Usenet, and various web pages that discuss security problems. Check the logs
from the other layers regularly, look for things that don't belong, and take
action when necessary.
Cheers,
Chuck
Paranoia comes from experience - and is not necessarily a bad thing.
